PRISONER rights campaigners have renewed calls for an independent inquiry after a woman became the fifth inmate at Styal prison to die in just 10 months.

Hayley Williams, 41, was found hanging in a cell by staff at the Cheshire women's prison on Wednesday.

The tragedy happened a day after magistrates had been told that Williams felt she couldn't cope with a return to prison.

A police and Prison Service inquiry has begun into her death, but prison campaigners say that following the latest tragedy, there must be an independent inquiry.

Claire McCarthy, policy and campaigns officer at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "At Styal there have now been five suicides in the last 10-months.

"In each case, there should be an independent inquiry, not just into the individual deaths, but into Styal generally - and what is going on there that's led to five woman killing themselves in the past 10 months."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We can't comment on any specific details until the coroner's court has brought a verdict."